General Care Discussion :: oh man

[kmichael55]

my turtles finally fought today...i was hoping they would like each other forever...it was while i was feeding them, Ethel got a hold of Fred's nails (or maybe they got stuck in her mouth?and Fred was latched onto her shell. I took them out and kept Fred from biting Ethel, but she would not open her mouth to let Fred's nails go... neither is bleeding but it took about 10 minutes to get them separated. Is there any hope for them since this was during feeding and they've never shown any previous aggression? I have them separated now....damn.

[oobie58]

Same thing happened to me. I was feeding them and the bigger turtle my 2" bit my 1" in the back leg but there was no blood. so now at feeding time i put one in a plastic container and feed the one in the water and than swap them out.

[Safdar]

Man turtles take it real serious about food
If you see agression when they are not eating
Then take them out

[marisa]

Feed them separately to prevent aggression at feeding time. Watch out for signs of agression at other times.

How big are the turtles and how big is the tank they're in?

[kmichael55]

They're both about an inch and 3/4 and in a 20 gallon... I know I'll have to upgrade soon, and maybe even get two separate tanks if they continue to fight...

[steve]

Definitely keep an eye on it. I was pretty bummed about separating my two, but it had to be done. At the time, they were much larger than yours. Even if you can't watch them all the time, keep an eye out for signs of aggression like bite marks, chasing and frantic swimming.

[N4784N R4613]

You should upgrade as big as you can't go right now, and start feeding them separately. Make sure you don't feed one in the tank. Take then both out one at a time, and feed them out of the tank, that way there is no relationship between the tank, and food.

[sainatoa1326]

I have five RES and when I feed them they will fight. I have had them around two years thats the only time they fight and its more a fight to the food than it is against each other. Surprisingly they know who to steal from and who not to. I hand feed them now kind of, I use a fork so they don't accidentally bite me. It keeps the bigger ones from fighting each other and the little ones take what I throw into the tank. Plus I get to make sure they all get something since their sizes and strengths vary between them.

[kmichael55]

What are you feeding them that you can use a fork?? Sorry just can't picture it. It would be better for the turtles who have to fight for their food to just feed them all separately.

[Tenodera]

a fork?!

wow.

[Safdar]

Teaching your turtle table manners ayy

[sainatoa1326]

I feed them fish and shrimp. I go out and buy shrimp cut it up into sizable pieces for them and then feed them. I also feed them goldfish or guppies, and crickets but majority of the time I stick to pebbles from petsmart. but they lie the attention I like being hands on with them it gives us time to bond since I can't hand feed them any more. It may not seem logical to others but to me it is. I let all my pets eat food I eat. My dog and I share bacon, chips and whatever else I'm eating. And my cat eats Chinese food and ham with me. why should my turtles be any different?

[marisa]

Your dog, cat and turtles all have dietary requirements specific to their species. They'll eat anything, but really with the diets they're getting, they're going to eventually have health problems and likely lead shortened lives.

Your turtles' diet is way to high in protein. And "pebbles" from Petsmart???

You're right. Your logic concerning feeding them escapes me.

[megcornell]

If by pebbles you mean pellets, then you're feeding one thing correctly. The other foods you feed are dangerous for your cats dogs and turtles and you should stop immediately. There's a reason pet foods are designed specific to each animal- cats need A LOT more protein for example than would be healthy for a dog to consume. Your diet doesn't even sound healthy for a human.

[xsavingsaturdayx]

I feed them fish and shrimp. I go out and buy shrimp cut it up into sizable pieces for them and then feed them. I also feed them goldfish or guppies, and crickets but majority of the time I stick to pebbles from petsmart. but they lie the attention I like being hands on with them it gives us time to bond since I can't hand feed them any more. It may not seem logical to others but to me it is. I let all my pets eat food I eat. My dog and I share bacon, chips and whatever else I'm eating. And my cat eats Chinese food and ham with me. why should my turtles be any different?

Please, man...dont let your turtles eat that junk - realy all it's going to do is shorten their life span and probably get them nutritionally deficient in something (even with pellets, it doesnt supply ALL the vitamins and minerals your turtles need). A turtles diet is of highly evolved science, dont assume because they dont drop dead right then and there, that what you are feeding them isnt bad for them. This is not right, or acceptable.